It's hard to believe it’s already December! With the holiday season fully underway, we’re featuring some of our favorite places to unwind in front of a fireplace this winter—hopefully with some of your favorite people. Speaking of winter, we’re highlighting a recent trip to the Scandinavian Arctic, complete with a viewing of the Northern Lights. Beaches more your speed? We’ve got the lowdown on some of the best hotels in Anguilla. From all of us at First in Service, we wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year. Cheers to 2019!

Erika Reategui and Fernando Gonzalez
Co-founders

Search for:

5 Outside the Box Vacations

Joining a group tour, especially as a solo traveler, can be daunting. We found five experiences to shed your inhibitions, try something outside the box, and make lasting memories.

CAMERA READY VACATIONS
Who hasn’t felt the pressure of capturing the perfect shots on vacation? If only we could bring along a professional photographer instead of a selfie stick. El Camino Travel was founded to solve the dilemma. Lifestyle photo pros follow you along, snapping away as you have the time of your life in gorgeous Colombia and Nicaragua. Come solo as our Karina Martinez did, or with a buddy. You’ll leave having made lots of new pals, along with a magazine-worthy photo collection.

WILDLIFE EXPEDITIONS
In 1988, professional wildlife photographer Amos Nachoum hatched the idea to include nature enthusiasts on his extraordinarily land and sea expeditions. Since then Big Animal Expeditions has taken small groups to experience some of the world’s most beautiful creatures in their peaceful, undisturbed habitat. Coming up in July is a swim with blue whales, the earth’s largest animal, in San Diego. In November he has organized a dive with orcas in Norway, amidst a backdrop of pristine fjords and the gleaming Northern Lights. Amos calls these ‘life experiences’ a perfect way to overcome personal limitations and fears. It’s also his way of reminding us that it’s not too late to save the planet’s majestic wildlife.

TRIBAL GLAMPING IN INDIA
Each December, The Ultimate Travelling Camp takes a small group on a rare camping adventure to remote India…in pure luxury. Kohima Camp in Nagaland is a two-week opportunity to celebrate with 16 ethnic tribes during the Hornbill Festival from December 1-12. Days are filled with elaborate pageantry and dances, village visits, and more. Accommodations include 12 spacious, luxury tents, with hot showers, 24-hour butler service and a staff of 35. A resident chef prepares each sumptuous meal throughout your stay.

SEE THE WORLD AND DANCEBare Feet Tours offers culturally curious travelers the opportunity to see the world through dance. Whether you have two left feet or are an accomplished dancer, the bottom line is having fun, in a small group setting, and connecting with the local culture’s dance and music. The next open trip is a 9-day tour of Austria featuring the Viennese Ball season, live Mozart performances, and knee-slapping Schuhplattler dancing in the hills of Steiermark.

A CHEF’S TOUR
Ready to add exotic flair to your cooking repertoire? The International Kitchen organizes chef-led gastro-vacations to Peru, Turkey and South Africa, in addition to a dozen other destinations. Itineraries are customized to the group, with plenty of hands-on lessons, cultural experiences and excursions.